text:
Commercial properties snapped up in two $4m deals
THE demand for tenanted commercial properties on the Sunshine Coast continues with two $4 million-plus sales.
A private Melbourne family hunting for assets with strong returns has snapped up a convenience centre in Maroochydore.
The family paid $4 million for the single level, multi-tenanted asset at 28 Aerodrome Rd in an off-market deal struck by CBRE's Rem Rafter and Brendan Robins.
At Noosaville, a tenanted investment opportunity in a busy commercial and retail precinct has been sold by Ray White Commercial Noosa and Sunshine Coast North for $4.2 million.
CBRE's Rem Rafter said commercial prices were rising on the Coast and the Aerodrome Rd property was bought as a long-term investment with redevelopment potential.
"Yields have tightened up 50 basis points in the last six months, particularly for retail properties,” Mr Rafter said.
"Retail will continue to perform particularly well in 2017.”
The five-tenanted property in two stand-alone buildings has Zarraffa's Coffee Shop, Star Liquor, Pita Pit and Hertz as tenants while Chemist Warehouse recently relocated.
It is zoned for residential development of seven to eight levels.
The Noosaville property at Lot 1 in the Noosa Homemaker Centre was sold to a private investor by Ray White Commercial Noosa and Sunshine Coast North directors Paul Butler and Paul Forrest on behalf of a private owner.
Mr Butler said the 1461sq m property was the largest individual showroom in the Noosa region and had long-term, high profile tenants.
Forty Winks and Rivers in place.
"The result represented a yield of 7.5% which given the weighted average lease expiry (WALE) and higher price bracket for Noosa is a strong result.
"Prior to Rivers renewing their lease, the site was sought out by high-profile Australian tenants. The owners have never had a vacancy in the showroom.”
In a further statement of confidence in the region's commercial/retail market, construction has begun on one of the Coast's most anticipated developments.
Positioned opposite Kawana Shoppingworld, on the corner of Nicklin Way and Point Cartwright Dr in Buddina, the 8000sq m corner site is being developed by the owners Pellicano Group.
Once completed later this year, the new centre will be called The Point.
Joint exclusive leasing agencies CBRE Sunshine Coast and Colliers International have been appointed to lease more than 2600sq m of retail shops, where they've already secured IGA and a Hungry Jacks drive-through as tenants.


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New Orleans, La. (PRWEB) January 11, 2017 -- Advanced Polymer Monitoring Technologies (APMT) today announced that a European business development professional has joined its team. Bernhard Bartylla will lead European initiatives for APMT’s product lines serving polymer and biopharmaceutical applications.
“We’re working with Bernhard to introduce ACOMP and ARGEN to European manufacturers and researchers. Bernhard brings significant experience in our application areas and will be a tremendous asset on our business development team as we continue building an international presence. We look forward to bringing our innovative technologies and products to Europe,” says Alex Reed, CEO of APMT.
Bernhard is an analytical chemist based in Germany who has more than 35 years of experience with product management, applications engineering and scientific sales. Bernhard received a degree in Analytical Chemistry from Ruhr-University Bochum in Germany. He has experience as a sales manager for Polymer Laboratories, a product manager for Varian Deutschland and a GPC/SEC product specialist at Agilent Technologies in EMEA markets.
“I am excited about the opportunity to work with the talented team at APMT on ACOMP and ARGEN opportunities. I have spent several decades working with users in the polymer and biopharmaceutical industries, and I believe in the transformative impact that APMT’s products will have in both manufacturing and research in these areas.” says Bernhard Bartylla.
In December 2016, APMT announced the installation of a second generation ACOMP system which is operational at an industrial polymer manufacturing facility. To contact Bernhard regarding interest for ACOMP or ARGEN in Europe, email him at bernhard.bartylla(at)t-online(dot)de.
Advanced Polymer Monitoring Technologies, Inc. develops, manufactures and distributes products and services for the real-time monitoring, analysis, and control of polymer reactions, solutions, dispersions and suspensions across all synthetic and natural polymer sectors from R&D through high volume industrial production. For more information, visit http://www.apmtinc.com.
Matt Willard, Advanced Polymer Monitoring Technologies, http://www.apmtinc.com, +1 (504) 235-1009, [email protected]
SOURCE Advanced Polymer Monitoring Technologies

domain: news


text:
“Reaching for yield is really stupid, but it’s very human,” Buffett said Monday in an interview on CNBC. “People are reaching for yield, there’s no question about that. And that’s stupid and it has consequences over time, but it’s very human.”
Buffett, chairman and chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., was asked about life insurance companies that sell products, such as annuities, that promise higher returns than the rates the companies can earn on investments. The push for yield sometimes persuades executives to make risky changes, leading to the boom in leveraged loans and the weakening of covenants, he said.
Buffett, in his annual letter to shareholders Saturday, discussed his view on repurchases and corporate governance. The 89-year-old investor said he plans to allow shareholders to direct questions to his key deputies, Ajit Jain and Greg Abel, at this year’s annual meeting, giving a greater voice to two people seen as top contenders to replace him when he steps down as CEO.
“Warren Buffett’s annual letter supports our view that Berkshire’s next CEO will be one of two vice chairmen — Ajit Jain or Greg Abel. 4Q share repurchase was above our expectation, but we believe buybacks will stay limited,” said Matthew Palazola, an analyst at Bloomberg.
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) asked Paytm to reapply for a payment aggregator licence within 120 days in response to its initial application.Festive Season not Over for EV Cos as Sales Hit Top Gear
The festive season may have ended but festivities are continuing for electric vehicle (EV) makers with November sales likely to match the record set last month amid Navratri and Diwali seasons.Oyo Ebitda Sees 8-fold Jump in Q2, Loss Narrows to ₹333 cr Sequentially
Hospitality chain Oyo reported an adjusted ebitda of ₹56 crore for the September quarter, up from ₹7 crore in the preceding three-month period.
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Award winning London law firm Fisher Meredith is delighted to announce details of a new online debt recovery service.
“Online Debt Collector” from Fisher Meredith is a web based service to help business owners recover unpaid debt.
It has been developed to meet increasing demand from businesses wishing to apply legal force to recover money without incurring high legal fees. Registering for the service is free and it operates much like any “online shop”.
The core features of the Debt Recovery Portal include:
– Free registration and account
– Free client area to place and monitor orders and debt
– History of purchase
– Access to Fisher Meredith’s team of debt recovery solicitors
– Free debt recovery advice
– Customisable options including cost tracking
Jay Sahota, Deputy Head of Fisher Meredith’s Dispute Resolution team said: “In these difficult economic times, we are seeing many organisations choosing to delay or even failing to make payments to their suppliers. This adversely affects cash flow and puts businesses at risk.
We saw an opportunity to develop a simple innovative online service that allows business owners to assertively manage bad debtors. We’ve made it easy for businesses to go online, type in a few details and generate a solicitor’s “letter before action”. In about 70% of cases, a solicitor’s letter is all it takes to prompt a late paying customer into making a payment.”
“Online Debt Collector” from Fisher Meredith will be launched at the Richmond Business Expo on April 19th at Twickenham Stadium (www.richmondexpo.co.uk).
Fisher Meredith will be offering a new iPad to the first business which registers for, and uses the service.
Paul Mills, Fisher Meredith’s Senior Marketing Manager said: “We are using the Richmond Expo to launch the service because over 2000 business owners will be able to see at firsthand how it can add value to their business. We hope our “Online Debt Collector” will provide businesses with a cheap but efficient way of recovering unpaid debts.”
“Online Debt Collector” from Fisher Meredith is available from www.fishermeredith.co.uk on 19 April 2012.


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Here's how Motorola's next flagship can take the fight to Samsung, HUAWEI
It’s been far too long since we saw a true flagship phone from Motorola. The last device to fit the bill was 2017’s Moto Z2 Force, while subsequent devices have either used mid-range silicon or the previous year’s flagship processor.
Thankfully, the company announced in December 2019 that it’s planning to launch the “fastest 5G phone on Qualcomm’s flagship platform” in early 2020. This means we can expect a Snapdragon 865 device from the company (tipped to be the rumored Motorola Edge Plus).
Here’s what Motorola needs to do to ensure that its first flagship in a long time is a critical and commercial success.
Ditch the Moto Mods
Yes, this might be a mildly controversial opinion, but it’s high time that Motorola ditches its Moto Mod ecosystem of hardware add-ons. After all, the firm has fulfilled its promise to support the Mods for three generations.
The biggest reason to ditch Moto Mods is that it allows the company to dramatically change its flagship designs. The Moto Z series of devices have all had the same fundamental design and shape, due to the need to ensure Moto Mods are compatible.
Breaking compatibility with these add-ons also means Motorola can finally ditch the Moto Mod contact pins on the back of its phones, delivering a truly water resistant smartphone in the process. The company could also theoretically deliver wireless charging without the need for a Mod too.
A world-class camera experience
One of the biggest differentiating factors for smartphones today is the camera experience, and it’s here that Motorola could do with some improvements as well.
Between inconsistent daytime shots, aggressive beauty effects for selfies, and an “awful” night mode, our own Eric Zeman didn’t have much praise in his Moto Z4 review. So the company definitely needs to make major improvements across the board. Although to be fair, the brand seems to have improved the night mode in a big way with the Motorola One Zoom.
We’re also in the era of multi-camera devices, and Motorola has joined the fray with its Motorola One family. The new flagship will need a normal/wide/telephoto camera setup at the very least, if Moto hopes to stay competitive with other flagships. But we’ve also seen quad- and penta-camera setups in recent months, packing longer range zoom and macro sensors.
One of the major redeeming qualities when it comes to Motorola’s camera experience are the quirky and fun camera modes though. More specifically, we’ve seen Lumia-style Spot Color functionality (adding a splash of color to an otherwise monochrome image), Cinemagraphs, and Live Filter effects. These aren’t game-changing, but they’re definitely fun features and have helped Motorola stand out somewhat from the competition. So hopefully the firm has similarly fun effects in tow for the flagship device.
The company has also touted action camera functionality on its mid-range Motorola One Action, allowing you to record landscape wide-angle video while holding your phone in portrait. It’s an interesting solution to Vertical Video Syndrome but we hope if Motorola’s flagship has this, that the company still lets us take pictures via this camera anyway (a critical Motorola One Action flaw).
A big battery and faster charging
Motorola’s phones have generally been frugal when it comes to power consumption, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that its flagship devices have traditionally had average battery sizes.
The likes of Huawei, Samsung, and OnePlus have all delivered bigger batteries for the most part in 2019, so here’s to Motorola joining them in offering a meaningful boost. And while we’re at it, the company should offer faster wired charging, as 15W pales in comparison to 20W, 30W, and even 65W solutions today.
A two-tiered approach
To go fully premium or to take the affordable flagship route? Motorola will have undoubtedly thought about this while developing its new flagship device.
It doesn’t have to be one or the other though, as Samsung’s Galaxy S10 series shows. We’ve got a more affordable flagship in the Galaxy S10e, while the Galaxy S10 Plus comes in with all the bells and whistles.
The two phones offer the same fundamental experience, but the Galaxy S10e dials back the camera count, offers a reduced screen resolution, and delivers 6GB of RAM versus the S10 Plus’s 8GB or even 12GB. Other noteworthy Galaxy S10e features compared to the Plus model include a side-mounted fingerprint scanner in lieu of an in-display sensor, one selfie camera instead of two, and a much smaller battery.
By potentially taking this approach, Motorola could offer one phone to challenge the likes of Xiaomi and OnePlus, and another device to steal market-share away from Apple and Samsung’s top-end phones.
More additions to the stock skin
One of the best reasons to get a Motorola phone is the mostly stock Android skin, offering none of the performance penalties associated with hefty Android overlays. Fortunately, the company has added a few extra features over the years, such as gestures to quickly activate the flashlight or camera, and system navigation with the fingerprint scanner.
Motorola could definitely do with a few more additions, such as a Rules option (akin to LG’s Smart Settings), a PC mode, and more personalization. None of these features are massive on their own, but every option helps to make Motorola’s flagship stand out from other stock devices.
What else do you think Motorola needs to do to make its upcoming flagship a success? Give us your answers below!


text:
LOS ANGELES – Ram President and CEO Fred Diaz is optimistic Chrysler’s new Pentastar 3.6L V-6 engine will bolster sales in the 1-ton truck segment, where consumers increasingly are making fuel economy a top purchase consideration. The auto maker has not confirmed officially that the engine will make its way into the Ram pickup, but Diaz hints that’s the case. “I think it will be a big addition to the truck,” he tells WardsAuto in an interview here. Former Chrysler powertrain chief Paulo ...
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The Chinese central bank has announced that it is departing from the practice of the last two years of pegging the renminbi (RMB) to the dollar and returning to the earlier practice of allowing some appreciation of the currency under a managed float regime. The shift meant that in the first two days of the week starting 21st June, the RMB had appreciated by around 1 per cent relative to its Friday close. While this may be a small shift when compared with estimates of a 50 per cent undervaluation of the currency, it appeared an indicator of the direction in which its value could go.
The announcement has been received extremely well by the markets. The euphoric market response to the appreciation seemed easy to explain. Countries like the U.S. that incur a huge deficit in their trade with China could hope for some correction of the “imbalance” because of an increase in the dollar price of Chinese exports and a fall in the local currency prices of the country’s imports. If this reduces China’s exports to and increases its imports from the U.S., the latter’s deficit would decline leading to some degree of rebalancing.
There are others like India who not only look for improvement in their trade with China, but expect to gain a competitive advantage vis-a-vis China in third country markets because of a rise in the foreign exchange price of China’s exports, such as its exports of textiles.
Thus, what is surprising is not the initial euphoria, but the fact that it is being rather quickly replaced by an air of uncertainty about the implications for the world economy. The first source of uncertainty is whether a significant the expected trade and current account adjustments would actually be realised given a range of possible alternative outcomes. To start with, if past experience when a similar exchange rate policy stance was announced by the Chinese central bank is any guide, the actual appreciation of the currency may be far short of what is required to neutralise the competitive advantage China built up during the period when its currency was pegged to the dollar. China’s declaration may be just a move to diffuse criticism at the upcoming G20 meet when a number of countries were expected to place the onus for global imbalances on China’s exchange rate policies. Once the meet is done with we may return to business as usual without seeing significant benefits for competing countries.
Further, even if the appreciation of the RMB is significant, the U.S. may not gain, because the reduction in China’s exports to the U.S. may not result in increased demand for U.S. goods but for imports from third countries that are now more competitive than China in the U.S. market.
The appreciation may not result in global rebalancing, which reduces America’s aggregate trade and current account deficits, but merely to a change in the trade balances between the U.S. and China.
Finally, the appreciation of the RMB may not correct global imbalances involving China for one other reason. Even if China’s trade and current account surpluses are reduced, expectations of a currency appreciation can encourage a kind of carry-trade, in which investors borrow in foreign currencies and invest in China’s markets, not only to profit from local markets and activities but also to gain from the appreciation of the RMB. Hence China would still have large foreign exchange surpluses which would flow to countries like the U.S., dampen interest rates and encourage the consumption and dissaving that underlay the recent crisis.
A second cause for uncertainty is the potential fall-out for growth in China if the RMB does indeed appreciate significantly. China is substantially dependent on exports for growth as of now. If its export competitiveness is adversely affected by currency appreciation and the economy’s growth potential is impaired because this adverse export effect is not neutralised by an increase in domestic demand, then Chinese growth would slow. This would curtail China’s demand for raw materials, capital goods and energy, which would slow global growth, rather than increase such growth.
Finally, when China recorded a rapid rise in its current account surpluses, it accumulated reserves which flowed to the U.S., especially into U.S. Treasury Bills. If the renminbi appreciates significantly over the medium term vis-a-vis the dollar, this could not only reduce the pace of reserve accumulation but require a high return on dollar assets to take account of the expected depreciation of the dollar relative to the RMB. Both of these would mean that if the U.S. government’s deficit is to be financed by Chinese credit, the cost of borrowing would be higher. This can only have adverse implications for U.S. growth, especially at a time when the U.S. government is seeking to come to terms with the deficit increase and debt accumulation that resulted from its response to the financial and economic crisis.
All in all, therefore, there are many reasons to be sceptical of the argument that an appreciation of the RMB is good for global rebalancing and global growth. Not surprisingly the initial euphoric response to the announcement of a likely appreciation of the RM is being quickly replaced by a sense of uncertainty and a call for caution.


text:
The OnHub router has quickly become an interesting novelty in the sometimes stoic home networking segment thanks to its forward-looking hardware and user-focused software. And Google isn't letting up on the latter: the router is already receiving its first software update, about three months after the launch of the TP Link-branded OnHub and just a week after the announcement of the ASUS version.
That being said, there isn't anything in this update that's particularly mind-blowing. According to the changelog posted on a Google support page and corroborated by an owner on Google+, the changes are focused on better performance and network management. Read More
We've had a few developer previews of Android 6.0 over the summer, but now the real deal is rolling out. You could wait for days (or weeks!) to get the OTA on your device the old-fashioned way, or you can just grab the ZIP files from the URLs below. We'll update with new OTA files as we find the URLs, so check back often if your device isn't listed yet. Read More
Thanks to semi-standardized hardware and "pure" builds of Android, Google has maintained an impressive track record when it comes to speedily updating the Android One phones that it's designed with various partners in emerging markets. One of our readers was kind enough to track down a handful of links for over-the-air updates to Android 6.0 for these phones, in case users are tired of waiting and want to update their phones manually. To flash these OTA files in recovery, you need to be on the latest Lollipop build (LMY48M) with unmodified software. Read More
So there you are, pining hard over one of the new Nexus phones so you can get your hands on the latest stuff Google has to offer. The anticipation must be excruciating. But fret not, dear friends, because good news is afoot: Marshmallow will begin making its way to the Nexus 5, 6, 7 (2013), 9, and Player starting "next week" — most likely on October 5th like we heard yesterday. That's also the day that we expect 6.0 to start hitting AOSP.
Like we said yesterday, the OTA rollout can be a slow one. But, like always, the zip file should be located with haste, and then everyone who wants it will be able to get Marshmallow, Now on Tap, and all the other fun stuff that comes along with the updated OS. Read More
Marshmallow is around the corner, but you know the routine by now. Updates take a while to roll out to some devices. Right now Verizon Wireless is pushing Lollipop to the Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 and Note Pro 12.2. Read More
The build of OxygenOS that shipped on the OnePlus 2 is good, but it's still very light on features compared to Cyanogen OS. The OTA update announced today should improve things a bit, though. There are some changes to the camera, display, and the usual smattering of bug fixes. Read More
This week the latest batch of over-the-air security updates started rolling out to Nexus devices, most going under version LMY48M. Google also posted the goods online in the form of factory images. The company then went on to provide a list of the security fixes.
Eight make the list, with one having actually been exploited in the wild. Though whether this was used maliciously or just someone rooting their own device is unclear. None of the vulnerabilities are newly disclosed. Read More
That took quite a while. According to a tip sent from an Android Police reader, that very small sliver of Galaxy S4 owners which opted for the Google Play Edition of the phone (running stock AOSP software) is now receiving the Android 5.1 update. That's the one that first started coming out way back in February, at least to Nexus devices. Yeah, the Google Play Edition program isn't looking quite so hot these days, more's the pity. Read More
There are some new OTA updates rolling out to Nexus devices today, but don't expect any big changes. T-Mobile has posted the update details for Nexus 4, 5, 6, and 7 LTE patches. They're all minor security and bug fix updates, but that's nothing to scoff at. Read More
Since their release, the Verizon versions of Samsung's 2015 flagships (well, the smaller ones anyway) have been given only a couple of minor service updates. That changes today, at least according to the carrier's support site: both the Galaxy S6 and its curvy brother the S6 Edge are getting bumped from Android 5.0, which they've been running since launch, to 5.1.1, the latest official release. The software version is LMY47X.G920VVRU3BOG5 for both phones. Read More


text:
Quick Note: "Most Valuable in History" Distinction for Apple? Not Yet
August 21, 2012 11:31 AM
comment(s) - last by
Apple's market cap surpasses Microsoft in its 1990s hey-day
an interesting story on Monday entitled "Apple is now the most valuable company of all time". Similar headlines soon abounded.
Indeed Apple, Inc. (
), despite a
which would be cause for celebration for just about anyone else, has soared in value over the last decade with the success of the iPod, then the iPhone, and most recently the iPad. From 2000 to present, shares increased from a market cap of $8B USD to $623B USD. For comparison's sake gold -- typically consider a massive commodities success story -- has only ballooned from $238 USD per oz. to $1640 USD per oz. at last count.
So when Apple's
market capitalization record
of $623B USD (at $665.15 USD/share) -- more than the $618.9B USD Microsoft was worth (according to investors) in Dec. 30 at the height of so-called "dot com bubble".
But for all the streamers and confetti, the claim that Apple is the "most valuable of all time/in all of history" isn’t accurate. Value is based on the worth of the currency at the time.
"Siri, who is the most valuable company in all of history?" Ding ding.. "In today's dollars Microsoft in 1999 would be." [Image Source: AP Photo]
In 2010 dollars, Microsoft's $618B USD valuation would be over $820B USD. While inflation data is still being finalized for last year, it would likely be somewhere in the ballpark of $850B USD in today's money (
The Columbia Journalism Review
$856B USD in today's money, although it admits to goofing by saying that International Business Machines, Inc. (
) in 1967 was the most valuable, failing to realize that the data it was working off of was already adjusted).
The headlines are particularly troubling, given that even a simple
would have revealed the truth (
pegs Microsoft's peak value at $846B USD in today's money).
In other words, Apple still has to grow by another third in order to truly become the most valuable of all time.
Still, it is fair to lavish Apple with some praise. The company was most profitable tech firm for 2011 and third in total profits. For 2012 Apple is expected to be the most profitable American firm.
Those profits could soar even higher if Apple succeeds in its court
bid to ban rival Samsung
Electronics Comp., Ltd.'s (
) devices from the American market -- the world's most lucrative and second largest smartphone market.
But Apple has a long hard road ahead to become truly the biggest company in history. For now, it is merely in a small crowd of historic elites.
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
RE: Why isn't there some lefty crying about Apply profits?
8/21/2012 4:19:11 PM
Apple targets a market that exists for whatever reason: families with more money to spend than they know what to do with or those who prefer sizzle over steak in general.
To quote a wise man: Can't knock the hussle.
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text: Obtaining a stranglehold on social media and effectively marketing your brand, most would agree, will be key in achieving long-term results in the current economy. However, new insights are showing that effectively utilizing social media does not just mean obtaining more ‘likes’ on Facebook (FB) than your competitors. Increasingly we are learning that social network denizens need to be engaged in a nuanced way, and certain retailers are much better at it than others. [Related: The Facebook Index: 83 Million Fake Accounts Don’t Affect Most “Liked” Stocks ]A recent study showed a significantly strong correlation between the number of "likes" a company has and customer engagement. So does a larger presence on Facebook translate into better business performance? Here is a social index comprised of the top nine companies with the most "likes" on Facebook. Somewhat surprisingly, Internet giant Amazon ( AMZN) has not done an effective job engaging their audience on Facebook. While the company has sixteen million likes, a figure most would envy, it has not been able to motivate those fans to take tangible action to buy products. In fact, Amazon is not even in the top ten as measured by ‘Fan Actions’ in a new study by Expion, a social media marketing management company, even trailing much smaller companies like Footlocker ( FL) and Applebee’s. In their recap of retailers’ performance during the holiday season, Wal-Mart ( WMT) and Victoria’s Secret, a subsidiary of Limited Brands ( LTD), performed the best. Beyond likes, new evidence points suggests people on a social network want to be entertained and engaged by retailers they follow, not just shown a promoted deal. Instead, retailers are most successful when they can establish a consistent story or narrative about their brand with unifying themes in a way that makes it seem like the brand is speaking to the user. Business Section: Investment Ideas What significance does this have for the way companies are marketed on social media? Well, for one, it may tell us that rather than trying to push products on websites like Facebook and Twitter, retailers should try to focus on building affinity for their brands. Taking the results of Expion’s study, we have a compiled a list with the top eight companies on Facebook based on fan engagement, not just likes.


text:
The Government's financial rescue package for the Midlands made available to counter the effects of the Rover/BMW crises last year is paying dividends for the manufacturing sector according to a report published today.
Manufacturers in the motor sector have received more than £2m of funding in the wake of BMW's sale of Rover last year and the resulting interruption to car production at Longbridge.
A report into the most recent phase of the Rover Task Force's supply chain support package, published by Birmingham University, reveals that a total of 55 companies received grants. Some 1,700 people received training and more than 200 manufacturing jobs were saved.
Companies taking part in the programme reported an average increase in business of 22% and believed it had both an immediate and long-term impact on the competitiveness of their manufacturing operations, the report says.
The Rover Task Force's supply chain support package is managed by Birmingham Chamber of Commerce's 'accelerate programme'. Chamber director David Draycott said: "While production was suspended on the Rover 75 companies seized the opportunity to train their workforces, introduce significant cultural changes and improve their business processes."


text:
Credit Salus Capital with being in the right place at the right time.
The Needham, Massachusetts-based specialty lender went out on a limb last year to make its biggest loan ever to RadioShack, based in Fort Worth. Now that the retailer is struggling to stay above water, Salus gets to grab headlines alongside industry heavyweights like GE Capital, and stands to be paid handsomely whether RadioShack succeeds or fails.
The Salus RadioShack deal also highlights a somewhat overlooked banking niche with strong ties to Boston.
Salus is one of a group of rough-and-tumble finance companies willing to make big loans against risky, non-traditional assets like a retailer's intellectual property or brand name.
Retailers are familiar with these lenders, which also include Boston-based Crystal Capital and Pathlight Capital, for example, and they know what it means to seek their services: It means they've got bad credit, and assets of questionable value. They need a lifeline, and to get it they'll take an aggressively structured deal from lenders that don't bother with any feel-good talk about their mission to grow jobs, or strengthen the economy.
These shops specialize in risky deals to faltering companies. A traditional retail finance loan might get to a 90 percent loan-to-value ratio. Salus or Crystal or Pathlight will top out at 100 percent, or even 105 percent, according to local industry executives. When it works out, it's a big win. When it doesn't, the lenders have no qualms about bossing borrowers around.
Such is the case with RadioShack, which could be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange if its stock price doesn’t pull above $1 share before Aug. 1.
Local bankers say the struggling Fort Worth-based electronics retailer shopped for a loan around Boston, hitting up the market's major lenders before landing a deal with GE Capital and Salus, which are now taking a hard line on the five-year, $835 million financing package they inked late last year. The lenders balked a couple of months ago when RadioShack proposed closing 1,100 stores.
When a U.S. retailer is looking for a loan, its eyes are inevitably drawn to Boston, the epicenter of the U.S. retail finance industry. Big banks, and shops like Salus, are based here largely because retail finance as it is practiced today was established here in the early 1990s by the Gordon Brothers Group, where Salus CEO Andy Moser got his start.
Banking giants Wells Fargo and Bank of America run their retail finance groups from Boston, and executives at those banks estimate that their groups lead as many as 80 percent of the country's retail finance deals. They're accompanied in Boston by small groups at Citizens Bank, TD, JPMorgan and others, making Boston the go-to city for retail finance.
But RadioShack needed financing for a turnaround, and a typical loan wasn't going to cut it.
That's where Salus comes in, and you can see why a deal like this would be attractive to the three-year-old Salus, which typically makes loans between $5 million and $100 million.
GE Capital's portion of the RadioShack loan was made against traditional assets — inventory and receivables -— at an interest rate just over 4 percent. Salus put up $250 million, the biggest loan it has ever made, secured by a second lien on inventory and receivables, and a first lien on "certain other assets," possibly the Radio Shack brand name or intellectual property. The Salus loan carries an interest rate just over 11 percent.
Moser won’t say publicly how Salus would be impacted if RadioShack is delisted, goes bankrupt, or goes out of business. But other local bankers say lenders in this space are careful to structure their deals so that they get paid back no matter what.


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Heavy fines to be imposed to businesses for false information
May 28, 2018 5:41 am
Businesses who are caught giving false information to consumers assisted under the Homes CARE initiative will pay a maximum fine of over two hundred thousand dollars.
Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission, Chief Executive Joel Abraham says they will ensure that these businesses are taken to task.
After setting up a joint task force last week, the Commission issued notices to sixteen traders in the Central and Western divisions in regard to the assistance.
Abraham says twelve businesses involved in the Farms CARE initiative have also been issued with similar notices.
He says both businesses and consumers should be cautious while accessing the Homes CARE Initiative.
“The penalties that are there are quite tough because the issue is serious and we want to make it clear to the businesses and to the consumers that both of you must exercise caution, care and responsibility in this entire exercise."
Abraham says their officers are currently on the ground monitoring businesses in various towns around the country.


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DaimlerChrysler to cut 6000 jobs
After General Motors and Ford Motors in US, it is the turn of the world’s fifth-biggest carmaker, DaimlerChrysler to announce their plans to cut jobs. The company has announced their plans to cut a fifth of its white-collar staff over the next three years. This means that DaimlerChrysler would be laying off around 6000 workers in the coming days.
This massive restructuring step taken by the company is expected to cost them a massive $2.5 billion by the end of 2008 but is expected to benefit the company in the longer term. The company said in a statement on these plans: “Together with other ongoing efficiency programs … G&A (general and administrative) costs are expected to be reduced by 1.5 billion euros per year. The net effect of today’s (steps) will be (savings of) 1 billion euros per year.â€
They have further plans to foster ties between premium car division Mercedes and U.S. arm Chrysler in purchasing, research, and development. However, the brands would continue to work independently and have a distinct approach to target their respective markets. These plans helped the company improve their stock position in the share market but have been criticized by the German works council.
German works council head and deputy group chairman Erich Klemm said in a statement: “It seems eliminating jobs is becoming the central means to boost efficiency in the company.â€


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The decision comes as the supermarket continues to invest in the Australian economy through its national expansion, store refurbishments, new product lines and supplier partnerships.
ALDI Australia CEO Tom Daunt said: “ALDI Australia is committed to operating with the highest levels of integrity and transparency in all aspects of our business, and our decision to sign up to the voluntary Tax Transparency Code (TCC) further reinforces this.
“As Australia’s fastest-growing supermarket (Nielsen Homescan 13 week to 1/4/17), we have a strong obligation to our customers, suppliers and the wider community, and take our corporate responsibilities seriously.
“ALDI supports greater tax disclosure in Australia, as this reflects our commitment to regulatory compliance and increased transparency on our tax strategy and corporate governance.”
ALDI is one of a small number of private companies to sign up to the TTC. As part of its commitment, ALDI says it will be publishing a voluntary yearly report on its website. The first report is due to be published in September.
ALDI currently operates more than 460 stores, employs 10,000 people and partners with almost 1,000 Australian suppliers to bring what it says is a different way of shopping to consumers.
Since establishing in Australia, ALDI has invested more than $4 billion in capital expenditure into the Australian economy.
All profits continue to be reinvested into its Australian operations, with the focus of these investments being directed towards store refurbishments and extensions, new store openings and improving the fresh offer to customers.
ALDI says it has consistently maintained an open and positive working relationship with the Australian Taxation Office. Since achieving profitability in the Australian market, ALDI has paid on average 31 per cent of pre-tax profits to the ATO.


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With miles of white sand and turquoise waters, San Diego’s breathtaking La Jolla Shores has been named among the top 25 attractions to visit in the U.S., according to one well-known website.
The travel planning and booking website, TripAdvisor, has compiled a list of America’s most popular attractions based on the greatest increase in traveler interest over this past summer.
According to the company’s “Attractions Trends Index,” La Jolla Shores is ranked No. 11 based on year-over-year search activity on TripAdvisor, which has increased by 88.8 percent between 2015 and 2016 for the period of May through July.
TripAdvisor says the scenic spot is beloved by travelers not only for its views, but for its beach area where one can try out a variety of water sports, including surf lessons, for a quintessential San Diego experience.
Other top-notch attractions across the U.S. that made the list include, in order:
1) One World Observatory: World Trade Center (New York City, New York)
2) The Magnificent Mile (Chicago, Illinois)
3) Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook (Gatlinburg, Tennessee)
4) The Pearl District (Portland, Oregon)
5) Mount Bonnell (Austin, Texas)
6) Newbury Street (Boston, Massachusetts)
7) Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee)
8) The Grand Ole Opry (Nashville, Tennessee)
9) Watkins Glen State Park (Watkins Glen, New York)
10) Jackson Square (New Orleans, Louisiana)
For the full list of the 25 attractions included in the index, click here.
For tips on parking in La Jolla and at The Shores, visit this website.


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There is a rather interesting PR story brewing here in Atlanta that perfectly illustrates why – in a PR crisis – you need to get
Pinpoint Market Research reports that “twenty-somethings” want something more from brands than just a product or service; they want social, political and community action. The market
What’s up with Brian Williams? The NBC Nightly news anchor admitted yesterday he lied about having been aboard a helicopter that was struck down in Iraq
I came across an interesting article today from Hamilton Nolan of Gawker in which he calls out Edelman for advising oil companies to attack their opponents.
If you haven’t been watching the Ken Burns documentary, “The Roosevelts, An Intimate Portrait” you’ve been missing out. Personally, I am a Roosevelt nut. I’ve
The Spanish fashion retailer, Zara, has removed a tee-shirt that sparked a massive backlash on Twitter. The item in question is a striped tee-shirt with


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German prosecutors have fined automaker Daimler AG (OTC:DMLRY), the corporate parent of Mercedes-Benz, nearly a billion dollars to settle a probe into whether Daimler sold diesel-powered vehicles that cheated on emissions testing.
Prosecutors in Stuttgart, where Daimler is headquartered, found that the company sold about 684,000 vehicles, starting in 2008, that didn’t fully comply with European Union regulations around emissions of oxides of nitrogen. (Oxides of nitrogen are among the pollutants that cause smog.)
Without admitting guilt, Daimler agreed to pay a fine of 4 million euros for “negligent violation of supervisory duties” and to give up an additional 866 million euros in profit, for a total payment of 870 million euros (about $960 million).
In a statement, Daimler said that the fines were below the statutory maximum because of its decision to cooperate fully with the authorities in Stuttgart and changes it has made to its internal regulatory-compliance systems.
The Stuttgart prosecutors’ case against Daimler is one of several that arose following investigations into Volkswagen AG‘s (OTC:VWAGY) diesel-emissions cheating scandal. Volkswagen subsidiary Porsche and parts supplier Robert Bosch GmbH both paid substantial fines earlier this year to settle similar cases with the Stuttgart authorities.
What it means for Daimler
The good news for Daimler investors, such as it is, is that Daimler took a one-time charge of 2.55 billion euros in the second quarter for diesel-related legal costs that appears to cover this fine. The company said that the fine will not result in a “relevant additional negative effect” on its third-quarter earnings.
Daimler cut its full-year profit guidance in July, mostly because of concerns about the potential costs of diesel-related litigation and enforcement actions. While it said at the time that it still expects sales to be roughly equal to its 2018 total (3.4 million vehicles) and revenue to rise slightly from the 167.4 billion euros it generated last year, the company currently believes that its full-year earnings before interest and taxes will fall “significantly below” the 11.13 billion euros it earned on the same basis in 2018.
Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius has said he will spend the remainder of 2019 focused on improving operating performance and cash flow generation, while looking at ways to trim costs that could include eliminating models from the company’s global product portfolio.
For Daimler investors who have been concerned about the potential costs of diesel-related litigation, this settlement is a significant step forward. But Daimler isn’t out of the woods yet: The company still faces huge costs related to the development of battery-electric vehicles at a moment when the world’s auto markets appear to be stalling.


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Some of the reports that have spread over the past few weeks about a smart wearable from Huawei said it’s a smart watch to carry the name Huawei Watch GT.
Confirmed information appeared on the website of the U.S. Federal Communications FCC that H Huawei smart rule which will be called Watch GT will be equipped with a battery capacity 410 Ma/H rechargeable cross-platform capacity of 5 watts which is dependent on the port of the USB Type-C.
As for the other benefits, the previous default will GPS technology GPS which means it will focus on more on fitness apps. In addition, the Watch GT supports NFC too, which allows users to make payments using services such as Google Pay Huawei Pay.
Away from this information it is assumed that the working hours Huawei smart base running Wear OS and processor Snapdragon Wear 3100. It is not excluded to see this hour officially for the first time during the conference the launch of phones Mate 20 on 16 October next.
The leaked specifications of the new smart watch from Huawei download name Watch GT was published first in are.


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Independent Retailers Posted Strong November Ecommerce Performance
For all of the love given to big box stores this time of year, the independent retailers out there are holding their own as well. In particular, according to a new report from Retailer Web Services (RWS), independent stores performed exceptionally well in the ecommerce space—a platform that’s been dominated by big-name brands for as long as well can remember.
According to RWS, which began tracking comprehensive November holiday shopping data through its network of independent retailers' websites in 2015, independent stores posted “millions in profits” from sales and leads that were directly attributable to their websites. RWS is a Scottsdale, Arizona-based provider of digital services to independent retailers of durable home goods. Traffic data for a cross section of 1,585 websites from their network showed that 6.4 million visits were generated by 5.4 million unique visitors during November. And, for the third straight year, Thanksgiving Day had the highest percentage of website traffic derived from mobile phones—57 percent from mobile devices, compared to the year’s average of 35 percent, RWS reported.
“More traffic did, in fact, result in more sales for our independent retailer customers,” said RWS Chief Operating Officer Jennie Gilbert.
RWS data showed that Black Friday was the most trafficked day of the month followed by Cyber Monday and the weekend days between the two official shopping holidays. Additionally, Black Friday saw the highest number of online quotes and orders, followed by Cyber Monday and then the Monday before Thanksgiving.
In total, RWS estimates that $79.6 million of business was had across its network of websites during the month of November. That number is based on the estimated value of online quotes and orders received throughout the month.
To quantify the value of digital leads and conversions, RWS explained that they polled their independent retailers earlier this year and found an average profit per sale to be $170.75. As for the average close rates by lead source, online orders led the way at 87.2 percent, followed by GPS navigation to the store from mobile (75.3 percent), calls to the storm from the mobile site (64.7 percent), and online quest requests (50 percent). RWS took those aggregated averages and other stats recorded across their network to show estimated profits in November totaled more than $7.4 million from just those leads, which they said were directly attributable to their WebFronts web presence.
“These year over year results have continued to climb, reinforcing the need for independent retailers’ sites to delight their local mobile shoppers and convert them into happy customers, and the significant returns earned by those that do,” Gilbert said.


text: U.S. Stocks are higher out of the gate on better-than-expected housing and inflation reports. Falling gasoline prices helped moderate the cost of food in July. The Labor Department said U.S. consumer prices edged up 0.1 percent. Home construction rose in July from the previous month. The Commerce Department reported construction on new homes snapped two straight months of declines at a 1.09 million unit pace. Last month, building permits also surged 8.1 percent. Home Depot (HD) is a stock to watch. The home improvement retailer reported second quarter results topping expectations. The company also raised its earnings full-year guidance. Today marks 10 years since Google (GOOG) IPO'd. At yesterday's close, the stock is up 976 percent in the last 10 years.


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The sudden plunge in gas prices can make it tempting to forget the lessons of the past.
As the U.S. economy began pulling out of the 2008-2010 recession, gas prices rose and $4-plus gasoline became a costly burden for commuters driving a gas guzzler. From October 2007 to June 2014, the fuel economy for the average new car and light truck purchased increased more than 20 percent. This sizeable increase resulted from a number of factors including stronger federal fuel economy standards, stubbornly high gas prices, and consumer awareness.
This last factor can matter most when it comes to the climate. Consumers must value cost savings from more efficient vehicles to achieve serious declines in greenhouse gas emissions from transportation.
The data seemed to indicate we had turned a corner on consumers valuing fuel economy. Unfortunately, the chart below suggests that consumers assume the current fall in gas prices will be sustained for many years.
Once gas prices began to decline in June, following several quarters of strong economic growth and improving jobs reports, Americans rushed to purchase larger and less efficient vehicles. Had previous trends continued, the average new car or light truck sold in December would have gotten 26.2 mpg. Instead we saw a slight drop to 25.1 mpg.
With gas prices expected to be less than $2.60 per gallon in 2015, you can expect more of the same consumer behavior unless the oil market swings the other way. And who can predict which way it will go? As recently as July, EIA forecast that gasoline prices would be $3.38 per gallon in 2015, or 30 percent higher than their current forecast. Uncertainty in the oil market is one of the main reasons policymakers have long tried to encourage consumers to adopt more efficient cars and trucks.
It is difficult for consumers to calculate the total cost of car ownership, especially when it comes to gasoline costs. New fuel economy labels on new cars and trucks try to address this by showing consumers just how much they can save with an efficient vehicle compared to the average new vehicle. And stricter fuel economy standards incrementally improve technology in cars and trucks, saving consumers money in the long run.
The transportation sector became the largest source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2016. While transportation sector emissions have fallen by 6.1 percent from their 2005 peak, transportation sector emissions grew about 21.5 percent from 1990 to 2016, largely driven …
This article first appeared as the cover story of the Winter 2018 edition of the “American Bar Association Section of International Law International Law News.” Global air traffic is on pace for tremendous growth. The world needs to prepare for …


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Via Gamasutra, the sultry developer-themed site, we learn a bit more from the interview with Japanese consumer mag Nintendo Dream that has already revealed LOZ: Twilight Princess will now feature a more “hack and slash” Wiimote controlled interface. The other news is that GameCube games from times past could be getting a control scheme update to complement the free motion control of the Wii.
Now, we all know that Nintendo has already indicated some of its Virtual Console titles may receive some improvements simply because they will be emulated on the faster Wii CPU, but there hasn’t been specific info about what the actual impovements would be.
Gamasutra also noted that in addition to the control and graphical improvements, Miyamoto also indicated that the revamped games would be sold at a “substantially lower price” than usual. Miyamoto said he hoped that other developers would also follow suit. I for one say bring ’em on (again), because you can’t have too much of a good thing. Just make sure the price is right, because that’s what Bob Barker said, and he’s tough because he beat up that guy who’s in all those movies that are the same thing but with different titles.


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After the cancellation of the anniversary editions of Rock am Ring and Rock im Park this year, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, GREEN DAY and VOLBEAT were recently confirmed as the headliners from 2020 for the 2021 editions of the twin festivals.
The current band wave now presents fans with numerous other top acts that will appear at the Nürburgring and in Nuremberg from June 11th to 13th 2021.
The ticket exchange for Rock am Ring and Rock im Park is still possible until June 30th, 2020. Holders of the Weekend Festival and day tickets as well as camping and parking tickets can easily confirm the exchange for 2021 via an online platform.
From 15.07.2020, the ticket price reimbursement will start for all cardholders who do not want to exchange their ticket.


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A representative from Mount’n Mover at the virtual ATIA 2021 conference shows us their mounts for physical access of devices. Check it out here: Click here for additional information about Mount’n Mover products.
AssistiveWare was one of the vendors at the 2021 Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) conference. The conference was not able to be held in person due to Covid-19 pandemic, but vendors shared great information about their products virtually. Here is the information that AssistiveWare shared about their assistive technology augmentative communication (AAC) products. Check it […]


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Written by Loren Nebrich
On Wednesday, Nike released NBA star Kevin Durant's new model basketball shoe, KD8 PG County. A tribute to the Seat Pleasant native's home jurisdiction, the shoes moniker pays homage to Prince George's County. Some county officials, however, are not happy with it.
It is in the abbreviation of Prince George's County in which the problem lies
“It’s ‘Prince George’s County,’ not ‘P.G,’” said Howard Stone, a longtime county bureaucrat who has worked in almost every major local government office. “We should never allow anyone to say it in our presence.” The nickname, some feel, is more of a dig than a term of endearment.
“As you can imagine, we are very proud of the success of Prince George’s County native Kevin Durant, and the pride that he has in growing up in the county,” the office of County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) said in an e-mail sent to Nike. “We do want to make the Nike corporation aware that ‘P.G.’ is a term that many in Prince George’s County consider pejorative and/or an insult.”
For decades now, leaders of the jurisdiction have campaigned against shortening the county's full name to two letters--as they feel the two letters could just as easily stand for demeaning names.
However, all is not lost for Durant's new shoe, as many others support him and his homage. Fellow Democrat and lifelong county resident, Justin Ross, showed his support in a text saying, “Clearly Kevin Durant named his new shoe out of love and respect for our hometown."
Sharing in the support, County Council member Derrick L. Davis said, "While I understand others’ dismay, the fact that he thought enough of ‘home’ to use it, albeit colloquially, makes me, a proud Prince Georgian, proud to claim Kevin as a Prince Georgian."
Durant's shoes are now available in stores and online for a cool $180.


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BETHLEHEM, Pa. –(BUSINESS WIRE)– Today, Orbweaver LLC, a leading provider of digital supply chain integration solutions for electronic components, announces its sponsorship of Crimson Racing, a student team established through The University of Alabama’s College of Engineering that designs and manufactures a formula-style race car from scratch. Orbweaver, a facilitator of real-time data connectivity and sales automation in the electronics industry, supports the application of classroom knowledge to drive technical advancements and opportunities to engage future professionals in the industry.
“Supporting these programs helps define our future as an industry.”
“Racing and motor sports innovators are always pushing the envelope with electronic and mechanical engineering advancements,” says Tony Powell, CTO of Orbweaver LLC, and Formula One enthusiast. “Crimson Racing provides a unique environment for students to apply their creativity and knowledge base with hands-on, competitive applications. We’re proud to support this program alongside other leaders in the industry.”
One of the first five universities to offer engineering instruction in the nation, The University of Alabama created its Crimson Racing team to take part in Formula SAE competitions. Battling universities from across the globe, the team of university undergraduate and graduate students conceives, designs, fabricates, develops, and competes with small, formula-style vehicles. Not only do team members apply engineering skills and compete in events, but they also learn about design principles and the effort required to generate a high-quality product.
Through generous sponsorship, Orbweaver and other industry leaders fund supplies and parts for the Crimson Racing car, investing in the next generation of engineers driven by a common passion.
“We are excited to see the car’s progress and watch these students develop,” Powell says. “Supporting these programs helps define our future as an industry.”
About Orbweaver Sourcing, LLC: Orbweaver is a data integration and automation company based in Bethlehem, PA. The company moves roughly one million pieces of information per second for its customers, and is a trusted provider to the largest global manufacturers and distributors. Orbweaver has led the charge in supply chain integration and automation in the electronic industry since 2012. For more information visit www.orbweaver.com.


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The mandatory reporting regime is set to change.
The Federal Government has tabled draft legislation that removes the need for food businesses to report food-related death, serious injury or illness to the ACCC under the ACL. The move awaits Parliamentary approval.
However, the mandatory reporting requirements will continue to apply where death, serious injury or illness is related to the packaging for the food and for other (non-food) consumer products. Food businesses will also still have to report food safety matters to State and Territory regulators under Food Acts.
Read our Alert for more insights.


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Posted: Nov 08, 2012
The front man of the Zac Brown Band reveals in a new video online that these days his diet is getting a clean-up.
“I’ve been on a raw diet,” Zac says. “I’ve been trying to eat good and feel better.”
Slim and trim Zac is on top of his game, even performing his band’s new single “Goodbye in Her Eyes” at the recent CMA Awards.
That’s why, the country superstar says, he’s paying closer attention to what he eats.
“I’ve got four girls at home and all these businesses… so I’ve got to be on it,” he says.
Zac’s diet consists mostly of sushi, raw vegetables, raw fruits, raw nuts and other clean foods.
He just launched the Southern Ground recording studio, and he’s gearing up to open Camp Southern Ground, which offers recreational and educational activities for children from different races, religions and socioeconomic backgrounds.


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How common is identity theft at auto dealerships? According to a report in Automotive News, “Dealerships are targets for identity thieves — those working from both the inside and outside.” * The report quotes Dave Robertson, executive director of the Association of Finance and Insurance Professionals:
“It’s still a major problem, but it’s not growing as fast.”
The report also quotes Maryann McKessy, Chief of the Fraud and Identity Theft Bureau of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, regarding auto dealerships:
“I hate to say it, but it’s a pretty common ground where information is breached.”
The FTC has issued “Red Flag” rules to try to curb identity theft at auto dealerships and among other creditors who handle people’s personal financial information. Dealers are being urged to train their employees to be on the lookout for identity thieves, including checking to see if the person in front of them looks like the photo on their driver’s license.
* Automotive News, Dec. 5, 2011


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June 14, 2012, 12:22 PM — Is Samsung building its own Facebook killer social network? That’s the rumor circulating on the InterWebs – or at least it was, until Samsung shot it down early this morning.
It started with a Korea Times article published two days ago about a Samsung product called “Family Story” that was allegedly referred to within Samsung as “Samsung Facebook.” Family Story is a way for users of Samsung products to share photos and other content between their Samsung phones, cameras, Blu Ray players, Smart TVs, and Smart refrigerators (yes, really).
That Korea Times story – or rather, its English language translation – found its way onto the Boy Genius Report, a rumor blog not known for its assiduous fact checking. Fox News picked up the BGR story from there, and the Internet rumor mill was off to the races.
My guess is that something got lost in the translation between the Korean language version of that KT story and the English one.
I had the pleasure of touring Samsung’s headquarters and manufacturing facilities as a guest of the company a few years ago. It was fascinating insight into both the culture of South Korea and of the company itself, which are closely intertwined. And I learned a few things that would make me instantly suspicious of a story like this one:
1. Samsung makes everything.
We only see some of the products they build over here, but in South Korea they are a vital part of virtually every industry, as well as accounting for nearly one quarter of all Korean exports.
I’ve never seen a single company play such a huge role in a country’s economy. It would be as if GM or Exxon accounted for a quarter of our gross domestic product. I felt like I wasn’t visiting the Republic of South Korea, I was visiting the Republic of Samsung.
True, Samsung also likes to design their own software and services – like Family Story. But what they don’t do is compete head on with other makers of software or services. (That sounds like something Sony would do, and do badly.)
Samsung’s in the manufacturing biz. They build software and services to complement their devices and make them more useful. Period.
2. Samsung works with everyone.


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Photos, video: See Shreveport's new At Home store
An At Home store opened Wednesday at 70th Street and Fern Avenue in Shreveport.
The store is the company's fourth in Louisiana and its first in north Louisiana. The others are in Kenner, Lafayette and Slidell.
The store will bring 25 jobs to Shreveport, the company said. The company is based in Plano, Texas.
The new location features 100,000 square feet with more than 50,000 home décor items including furniture, mirrors, rugs, art and housewares to tabletop, patio and seasonal items, the company said.
Stores are set up to present room vignettes that are updated to showcase trends and seasonal items. More than 400 new products are brought in each week to provide inspiration, the company said.
The company has scheduled a grand opening for Saturday, Sept. 16, with mystery gift card giveaways valued between $20 and $200 to the first 50 people in line.
At Home plans to open 25 stores this year. The company currently operates 138 stores. At Home is a public company traded on the New York Stock Exchange.


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Federal regulators slapped Myspace’s wrist Tuesday, finding that the company still exists and that it violated the privacy promises it made to its 10 remaining users.
Actually, Myspace, which morphed into a music-centric site, still has more than 25 million users. With the Federal Trade Commission’s action, Myspace joins its more prosperous internet cousins, Facebook and Google, in the club of companies that have been slapped with mandatory privacy audits for the next 20 years (though it’s not clear anyone expects Myspace to last that long).
The FTC targeted Myspace for sharing personal, identifiable information with advertisers in breach of the social-networking site’s own privacy agreement with users.
The proposed settlement, which Myspace accepts, follows a November agreement with Facebook, which was accused of sharing private user data (.pdf) in violation of its terms of service. No monetary fine is included in the settlement.
The FTC is also said to be in talks to settle with Google over it breaching Safari browser privacy settings in violation of an agreement it struck with the FTC, including a fine that might be as high as $10 million.
In 2010, the FTC dinged Twitter for repeated security flaws that violated promises made to users.
The authorities contend Myspace violated its own terms of service agreements with its users and shared user’s name, age, gender, e-mail address and photo with Myspace advertisers and third-party advertisers between at least 2009 and 2010.
The FTC said Myspace, when calling a third-party ad to render on the Myspace site, would transmit (.pdf) the “age and gender of the viewing user to a third-party advertisers in plain text,” in addition to e-mail addresses and other personal information.
What’s more, the music-oriented site Myspace was responsible for giving advertisers the “capability to track users’ viewing habits across different websites using tracking cookies,” the FTC said.
News Corp paid $580 million in 2006 to buy the then-dominant social networking company, only to see it eclipsed by Facebook. It unloaded Myspace in June for $35 million to Specific Media.
“In order to put any questions regarding Myspace’s pre-acquisition advertising practices behind us, Myspace has reached an agreement with the FTC that makes a formal commitment to our community to accurately disclose how their information is used and shared,” the Beverly Hills-based new owners said in a statement.


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The excitement around Dogecoin delivered massive dividends for stock-trading application Robinhood, and the corporation declared Wednesday that it’s roaming deeper down the crypto complications, sharing that it will shortly start checking crypto wallets for the users.
Robinhood noted that the crypto wallets, which will start launching over time to the users on its waitlist next month, will enable users to receive, send, and trade crypto coupons inside the application. The update gives Robinhood an oft-requested trait for cryptocurrency users and gets the application deeper into the ecosystem of crypto. Crypto users had recently been able to sell and buy a few cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Dogecoin but had been incapable of delivering those coins to outer wallets or collecting them from elsewhere.
The action will unlock Robinhood up to many of the changes in the crypto field that competitors like Coinbase have been apt to finance. It concurrently pushed the corporation into a sector with even more regulatory opacity. This week, Coinbase discontinued a long-planned lending item after the SEC compelled it to charge the corporation.
2020 and this year have been profitable years for the crypto globe, with coins down and bouncing up throughout the time but reaching profits much increased overall. Coinmarketcap calculates that the international market cap for cryptocurrencies continues at just shy of $2 trillion.
Lenders seem bullish about the corporation bending deeper into the cryptocurrency area; Robinhood’s product was up over 10% in exchanging today.


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Corona Labs is pleased to announce immediate availability of the Facebook Audience Network plugin. This new plugin brings Facebook Ads to your Corona-based apps with a straightforward collection of APIs.
More good news for Facebook integration. Coinciding with the recent beta release of Facebook-v4 on Android, we’ve launched the iOS version of the Facebook v4 plugin! The iOS version does come with a couple caveats to be aware of: iOS 6 is not supported with this plugin. This is due to Facebook dropping iOS 6 support […]
Today, Ed Maurina, from Roaming Gamer, took us through the basics of social media integration using the Facebook plugin. We looked at logging in, requesting permissions, and posting updates to a users timeline. We also discussed how to get an app id from the Facebook Developer portal.
Getting a list of Facebook friends may seem challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. Today’s tutorial walks you through the simple process in Corona SDK, allowing you to retrieve a list of Facebook friends and use it as you desire.
Some developers encounter road blocks when they attempt to get Facebook working in their apps. Part of the challenge is trying to understand how Facebook authenticates users. This week’s tutorial walks you through the process on both iOS and Android.
Time for a quick update on your favorite mobile app development platform.
Last week, Apple announced iOS7 Beta at WWDC. A lot of cool stuff was shown. The interesting thing is that a lot of the “flat” UI that was demonstrated was exactly the kind of thing we saw some of you already creating using Corona’s graphics system.
Here are a few highlights from Monday’s Corona Geek #36 when we talked about Facebook integration, plug-in beta testing, a gems development jam for Corona SDK developers, and more.
This week we hung out with Dr. Brian Burton, Ed Maurina, Dean Murphy, and Matthew Chapman to discuss Corona SDK’s integration with Facebook’s Open Graph Mobile initiative, Corona SDK plugin beta testing, new app ideas and what to consider when creating an app that competes directly with Apple.
Today Facebook announced the Facebook Technology Partners program. We’re excited that Corona Labs is part of this program and we have worked to make sure Corona SDK fully supports the functionality that Facebook makes available to mobile developers. More specifically, we support the latest Facebook SDK on iOS (and will soon do so on Android as well).


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March 22, 2021,
A global automotive icon and the most capable and recognized vehicle in the world, Jeep® Wrangler
continues to resonate with consumers year after year, a fact proven out by its 12th straight Canadian Black Book (CBB) Best Retained Value Award announced today.
Distributed annually, the CBB Best Retained Value Awards recognize vehicles that have retained the greatest percentage of their original MSRP over the past four years (since 2017). CBB’s awards program – now in its 14th year – guides consumers looking for vehicles that hold their value best, thereby reducing the total cost of ownership, a critical purchasing consideration. For 2021, the awards program analyzed cars and trucks in 23 categories.
What’s more, 2021 Jeep Wrangler surpassed a new competitive set. With the majority of Wrangler models sold in Canada as the four-door model, CBB realigned it to the Mid-Size Crossover/SUV category from the Compact Sport Utility category, yet it retained its crown.
"Canadian Black Book would like to congratulate Stellantis for another Best Retained Value win for the Jeep Wrangler,” said Yolanda Biswah, VP Sales at Canadian Black Book. “This vehicle is truly extraordinary in its ability to hold value, which is proven by its 12-year winning streak and the capacity to hold value well above the industry average.”
“We’re incredibly proud to again accept this award from Canadian Black Book for Best Retained Value,” said David Buckingham, President and CEO, FCA Canada. “Jeep Wrangler resonates with consumers in both the new and pre-owned market like few other vehicles can, thanks to a unique combination of rugged good looks, unmatched capability and the offer of open-air freedom.”
For 2021, Jeep brand has introduced the new Wrangler 4xe
, marking the arrival of the most capable, technically advanced and eco-friendly Wrangler ever. The Wrangler 4xe’s plug-in hybrid powertrain is capable of 35 kilometres of nearly silent, zero-emission electric-only propulsion, making it commuter friendly as an all-electric daily driver without range anxiety and the most capable and eco-friendly Jeep vehicle off-road – combined with the open-air freedom that only Jeep Wrangler offers.
Stellantis North America
Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) is one of the world’s leading automakers and a mobility provider. In North America, it's best known for producing and selling vehicles in a portfolio of iconic and award-winning brands such as Jeep®, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Alfa Romeo and Fiat. Powered by its diversity, Stellantis leads the way the region and the world move – aspiring to become the greatest sustainable mobility tech company, not the biggest, while creating added value for all stakeholders as well as the communities in which it operates. For more information, visit www.stellantis.com
Follow company news and video on:
Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com
Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com
Company website: www.stellantis.com


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By Jane Black In the world of telecommunications, everything is relative these days. The way investors and analysts see it, companies are in terrible shape (WorldCom and most of the competitive carriers), pretty bad shape (Sprint), and not-so-bad shape -- the Baby Bells, including Verizon, SBC, and BellSouth. Where does AT&T (T) fit in? Ma Bell has seen its shares rise steadily from around $8.50 in August on news that it's rapidly gaining share from the Baby Bells in the local-phone market and profiting from WorldCom's woes. It closed at $12.53 on Oct. 21.
Could the past be the future for the U.S. telecom biz, with AT&T leading the way? Don't bet on it. Sure, the giant has made some great strides. On Oct. 16, it reported that it had grabbed 2 million local residential customers, far exceeding its own projections. And, anecdotally at least, AT&T appears to be attracting some of WorldCom's skittish corporate clients. But with long-distance prices in freefall and the Baby Bells grabbing millions of its residential long-distance customers, AT&T is still fighting an uphill battle, analysts say.
At best, the new corporate and consumer customers should slow expected declines in revenue, which is projected to fall 9%, to $47.7 billion in 2002, and an additional 15%, to $40.5 billion in 2003, according to a consensus estimate from Thomson Financial First Call. But the most valuable piece of AT&T right now, its cable-TV/Internet broadband unit, gets handed over to Comcast (CMCSA) at the end of November.
"BE VERY CAUTIOUS." After that merger is consummated, you're left with stock whose implied value is around $5.60 a share, with most analysts saying it's fairly valued at anywhere from $2 to $5. "No matter how good a quarter they have, I'd be very cautious. This is the incredible shrinking company," says Patrick Comack, a telecom analyst at Miami-based Guzman & Co.
AT&T declined to comment for this story, citing a quiet period before it announces third-quarter earnings on Oct. 22. For that period, it's expected to bring in revenues of $11.9 billion, or 5 cents a share, vs. $13 billion, or 4 cents a share, a year ago, according to a consensus estimate from Thomson Financial First Call. But one quarter's results can't mask the fact that the telecom industry is undergoing its most profound shift since the Justice Dept. split up Ma Bell in 1984.
Gone are the days when one company offered local service and another offered long-distance. Today, telecom is a free-for-all. The local-phone providers, the Baby Bells, are getting into long distance. The long-distance providers, led by AT&T and what analysts say is a wounded MCI, are getting into local. And as competition heats up, the prices any company can charge are falling -- fast.
PAIN IN THE MARGINS. Even worse, it seems no one stands to lose more than AT&T in this high-stakes competition. The Bells are expected to capture 28 million residential long-distance customers, bringing their market share to 40% by yearend, analysts say. Chances are that some of the Bells' gain will come from AT&T's current 60 million residential long-distance customers. UBS Warburg telecom analyst John Hodulik expects AT&T's revenues in that business to fall 22.3%, to $2.9 billion, in the third quarter, vs. a 21.8% decline in the second quarter.
Those declines will weigh heavily on AT&T. Telecom, after all, is a high fixed-cost business. In theory, a provider has to maintain its networks for the optimum number of users regardless of the actual number. When customers defect or new customers aren't found, the result hits margins hard. Warburg's Hodulik estimates that third-quarter margins before interest, taxation, amortization, and depreciation will fall to 22% from 28.5% in the second quarter. By yearend, Hodulik believes margins could drop as low as 19.5%.
On the corporate side, the sluggish economy and increasing use of e-mail and wireless phones continue to lower call volumes on land lines. In the third quarter, Hodulik expects revenues for AT&T's business-services division to decline by 3.7%, to $6.6 billion, from $6.7 billion. EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) margins will remain flat, at 29.6%. And although business spending should recover by the second half of 2003, continued price pressure will keep margin growth flat at best. "Price decline is still the only thing you can count on in telecom," says Guzman's Comack.
LONG-DISTANCE LOSSES. Nor can gains in the local market be expected to pull Ma Bell out of a slump. AT&T's 2 million new local customers won't contribute much to revenue. In states such as Illinois and Ohio, AT&T is offering a $5 discount on long-distance service for customers who also sign up for local service. The result: below-average revenue per line and negative margins, says Legg Mason analyst Daniel Zito.
AT&T is betting, however, that long-distance customers who sign up for its local service will stick with the company. It's a notoriously fickle market. On average, 35% of long-distance customers switch carriers each year. "Customer gains in the local market allow AT&T to prolong cash flow in the consumer business. But I don't think it will ever offset their losses to the [Bells] in long-distance," says Zito.
Not surprisingly, AT&T CEO and Chairman-elect David Dorman disagrees. On Oct. 2, he told investors at a Goldman Sachs conference that his company is "very focused on operational results and what we can do for our customers." He emphasized that AT&T has significant advantages in size and scale on the business and consumer side.
SEEKING STABILITY. Still, the brightest spot for AT&T may be WorldCom's dark days (see BW Online, 6/27/02, "Is WorldCom Opening a Door for AT&T?"). Since most large businesses are locked into multiyear contracts, significant change won't happen overnight. Anecdotal evidence suggests, however, that big customers are indeed seeking a more stable company to provide phone and data services. On Sept. 15, Holmes Group, a $700 million consumer-products company and former WorldCom and Global Crossing customer, awarded AT&T a three-year contract to manage data, hosting, and voice services.
Before the WorldCom bankruptcy filing, Bernstein Research analyst Jeff Halpern had predicted that AT&T would lose share in the corporate data market. Now he's forecasting that its share will range from its current 39% to perhaps 40% by 2005.
Such gains, though, cannot turn the telecom tide, which is flowing against AT&T. That's one reason why, in June, it hired Tom Horton as its new CFO. A former executive at American Airlines parent AMR (AMR), Horton was attractive because he helped AMR navigate through what AT&T execs call "a period of uncertainty." That same uncertainty is coming AT&T's way. Investors should remain wary. Black covers technology for BusinessWeek Online in New York


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As COVID-19 has impacted every field of life in different ways, the packaging industry and custom packaging solutions are also no exception. In comparison to other business sectors and industries, when it comes to the packaging industry, we see different results and impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. It has impacted the industry in both positive and negative ways at the same time. Here are some of the impacts that it has made on the packaging sector and related businesses.
An Increase in Demand
According to recent surveys and trends of product demands, it can be easily seen that the demand for packaging solutions has greatly increased during the pandemic. It has a very valid reason behind it. This is so because of shutdowns and imposed protocols to revoke the spread of the coronavirus; customers mainly become dependent on eCommerce businesses and brands to fulfill their daily needs like foods, medicines, and a lot of others. Increased demand for such supplies and products has encouraged eCommerce brands and businesses to get more and more packaging solutions such as Custom Printed Boxes to cope with the increased demand for their products.
According to reports, just in the USA in 6 months of this year affected with the pandemic, a rise of 30% has been seen in the online spending of customers in comparison to the same period for 2019. This increase in the demand for eCommerce products has given a swift rise to packaging demand as well. An increase of $103Billions has been forecasted in the pandemic period as the industry size can increase from $909.2 billion in 2019 to $ 1,012.6 billion by 2021. So, from a broader perspective, when we consider the impacts of Covid-19 on custom packaging demand, we can consider is positive and encouraging.
Coronavirus Helped Companies That Were About To Shut
Before the coronavirus outbreak, most of the packaging suppliers and companies that were about to shut are now back in the market and are taking advantage of drastically increased demand for packaging solutions such as custom printed boxes. Recent surveys and studies re revealing that the coronavirus has made people aware of the importance of packaging for their products and benefits to use packaging outfits, specifically to businesses that were previously dealing with their stores, and now the pandemic has enforced them to go online. This deliberates that such companies will keep enjoying these raised demands for packaging even after the COVID-19 because people have understood the value of the packaging for products. Many people have become even further health-conscious and favor to buy products packaged in wholesale boxes instead of those which are vented also fail if they are expensive.
Change From Sustainability To Established Materials
In recent years, sustainability was the leading trend in the packaging industries; however, the coronavirus crises is giving a new shape and reverting the transformation of packaging to old solutions mainly. This transformation involves a number of aspects. One of the major elements that are causing this reversion to established packaging solutions and materials is the sudden rise in the demand for packaging due to increased demand for online businesses and enforced protocols due to pandemic.
It has been realized that most of the sustainable packaging suppliers are in their bingeing and such suppliers do not have sufficient infrastructure and materials to meet the raised demand for packaging solutions like wholesale boxes made out of cardboard and other sustainable materials.
Another reason behind this transportation can be customers’ concerns about the virus spreading possibilities with sustainable packages solutions, although WHO and the Centers for Disease Control have found no evidence of virus spread with these boxes. The point that people made about it is that on cardboard and other alike materials, coronavirus can survive for about 24 hours, and hand to hand transferal of these wholesale boxes can make them vulnerable to it.
Supply Chain Issues
One of the major issues that coronavirus has created for packaging suppliers of all kinds is the supply chain issue. The set protocols for businesses during the COVID-19 has enforced businesses to shut down their production house and others related functions if they are not dealing with FMCGs and essential products like foods and medicines, to revoke the virus spread. It has affected the supply chain of packaging manufacturers severely and is causing them losses despite increased demand for custom packaging. Lack of required materials due to issues in the supply chain for producing packaging solutions can cause a lot of companies a major loss.
As it cannot be denied that coronavirus is setting new normal and have changed the mode of every industry and business, the packaging industry and businesses are also has been impacted with it. It has impacted the packaging sector is both ways. Covid-19 has increased demand for packaging all over the world; however, associated restrictions and limitations have also affected packaging businesses too such as issue sin supply chain and transformation of packaging demand from the sustainable custom printed boxes to established packaging solutions made out of plastics and other kinds of packaging materials.


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Amid job cuts at Google’s parent company Alphabet, its CEO Sundar Pichai took home a whopping compensation of nearly $226 million in 2022.
According to the tech giant’s filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Pichaia’s compensation included stock awards of about $218 million.
Pichai’s salary, however, has remained steady at $2 million for the past three years, according to reports.
On January 20, Google CEO confirmed in a letter to employees that about 12, 000 people will be laid off globally, accounting for more than 6 per cent of the total workforce.
Amid layoffs, tech giant Google is also creating several cost-cutting measures such as cutting down on free snacks and workout classes for its existing employees, the media reported.
The company’s micro kitchen that provides free snacks like cereal, espresso, and seltzer water have been closed on days that typically have a significantly lower volume.
The company also discontinued spending on personal equipment like laptops, according to an internal memo.
Tech giant Google also informed its employees via an email that fewer of them will be promoted to more senior levels this year as compared to the past.
Google India terminated more than 400 employees and some of the impacted workers took to LinkedIn to share their plight.


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Fans of Detroit hip-hop trio Slum Village will be treated to an online exclusive when its "Villa Manifesto" EP -- a preview to the long-awaited LP of the same name -- hits iTunes and other Web outlets on Tuesday.
It's the first release after the short-lived reunion of T3, Elzhi and Baatin -- the latter of which left the group in 2003, rejoined in 2009 but died earlier this summer after the album was completed.
On its official Twitter feed, Slum Village has been encouraging fans to legally purchase the EP -- only available online, and not in a disc format. There's two songs available for preview on the group's MySpace page as well.
Check out Michigan Hip Hop blogger William Ketchum III's review of "Villa Manifesto" at HipHopDX, where he notes that the EP's producers Black Milk and Young RJ ably take production reins from J Dilla, a founding Slum Village member who died in 2006.


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All | Cigar Bar | Patio Only | Restaurant
There are cigar bars. There are cigar lounges. And then there's The Garden Room at The...more
Posted: February 15, 2011 By Nick Hammond
In the Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California is a recently opened cigar oasis: NK Cigar Lounge in Westlake Village....more
Posted: January 24, 2011 By Alejandro Benes
On the second Thursday of every month, something extraordinary happens in Los Angeles: Pedestrians take over. Well, they take over a large section of...more
Posted: December 27, 2010 By Alejandro Benes
Opening for business in 1857, Iwan Ries is the second oldest tobacconist in the...more
Posted: December 1, 2010 By Seth Schwartz
Rocky Patel Premium Cigars is entering the cigar lounge business. Burn by Rocky Patel, a high-end cigar lounge that can hold up to 300 people, opens...more
Posted: October 27, 2010 By David Savona
It's Thursday, the New Friday as everyone calls it these days, and late afternoon. While there's winter weather everywhere else, on Florida's Gulf...more
Posted: February 11, 2010 By Phil Scott
We revisit the most popular cigar-friendly spot in the nation's captial.
Posted: January 13, 2010 By Alejandro Benes
A tribute to rum and cigars on the strip.
Posted: March 31, 2009 By Alejandro Benes
Our associate editor visits the Windy City in search of cigar-friendly places.
Posted: March 5, 2009 By Gregory Mottola
When I was a little boy, growing up in my grandfather's house, I was fascinated with the cigarette he smoked. Specifically, with the picture on the...more
Posted: March 4, 2009 By Gerald Eskenazi
New York's most famous cigar bar opens for lunch.
Posted: December 17, 2008 By David Savona
Remember Beekman Bar And Books? It's back. And you can smoke. The swank Manhattan lounge opened in 1993, near the start of the cigar boom, and closed...more
Posted: December 11, 2008 By David Savona


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Are there bitcoin ATMs in the US?
The number of bitcoin ATMs has exploded in recent years with over 36,000 worldwide. The vast majority of them are in the US popping up where you shop.
New bitcoin ATMs have been popping up across the United States where people can buy and sell a range of cryptocurrencies. The number has grown more than sixfold in the past two years to over 32,000 nationwide according to Coin ATM Radar.
Currently, the machines are owned by private companies and mostly located in local convenience stores and gas stations. However, well-known companies like Circle K and Walmart have started installing them.
Bitcoin ATM locations in the US
Just about anywhere you go in the United States you can find a bitcoin ATM not too far away looking at Coin ATM Radar locator. The machines allow people, especially those who are less tech savvy, an easier way to buy and sell digital currencies than going through a cryptocurrency exchange website. Customers can deposit money into the bitcoin ATMs and have it sent to a crypto wallet.
The virtual currency kiosks will be even more convenient to find as Circle K and Walmart roll them out at their stores across the US. In 2020, the world's largest convenience store chain, Circle K, began installing bitcoin ATMs in its stores provided by Bitcoin Depot. Now the company has over 700 machines in locations in 30 states.
Walmart started a limited rollout in October 2021 with 200 Coinstar virtual currency kiosks at various locations around the US. Coinstar, which has partnered with digital currency exchange and bitcoin ATM operator CoinMe, is known for its machines that can exchange physical coins for cash. The largest brick and mortar retailer plans to install 8,000 machines nationwide in the coming months.
Law enforcement warns of criminals targeting bitcoin ATMs
This proliferation also comes with risks allowing criminals to perform transactions with relative ease and in a largely anonymous manner. According to law enforcement officials the ATMs are being used for drug and human trafficking, money laundering along with a variety of fraud.
Although bitcoin ATM operators are required to register with the US Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network the regulations are lax in many states. Users can make sizeable transactions, in some cases up to $900, while providing no more than a cellphone number to identify themselves.
The cryptocurrency industry wants to establish guardrails
The federal government is looking into how to regulate cryptocurrencies and digital assets. President Biden signed an executive order in March directing agencies across the government to coordinate their efforts to develop “a comprehensive, all-of-government framework to address the emerging risks and opportunities,” White House economic advisor Brian Deese said.
Those within the cryptocurrency industry see a need to tackle the sinister use of the machines as well. A consortium of companies has formed the Cryptocurrency Compliance Cooperative. The organization wants to see “universal compliance standards in the cash-to-cryptocurrency industry.”
A lack of “Know Your Customer” and “Customer Identification Program” requirements allows questionable transactions to go unnoticed by cryptocurrency providers. Minimal compliance to standards by cryptocurrency companies also expose banks, which take their deposits, to anti-money laundering and high-risk fraud violations according to the Cryptocurrency Compliance Cooperative.